Third Person's POV

The preparations of wedding started in both Sharma house and Saxena house. The invitation were sent to near and dear ones. 

The Saxena's had also sent the card to Malhotra's (Dhriti's original family). Dhriti didn't care much about Malhotras and let her sister decide what to do.

The invitation was received by Rakshit in his office only. He thought that it was the time to tell his family about their visit to Swati and Dhriti.

He reached home and waited for the dinner time when everyone would be there together.  Everyone gathered on dining area during dinner time.

" Maa-Papa, Chachu-chachi ,I have something to tell you..." Rakshit said gathering the elders' attention.

Sensing the seriousness in his voice the ladies knew it was something very serious.

"Okay.. First have your dinner, then we will listen to what you want to say in the living room.." Rakshit's father said.

Rakshit nodded and everyone started their dinner.

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When they were done with their dinner the men and the elder ladies sat in the living room where as the two daughter in laws were busy in wrapping the work in the kitchen.

"What do you want to talk about??" Rakshit's uncle asked.

"I will tell but first let Soumya(Rakshit's wife) and Samiksha (Shivam's wife)  come.." He answered.

His uncle was about to say something but Rakshit's father showed him his hand making him go silent.

Soumya and Samiksha also arrived and took the seat beside their husbands.

"Today I received Dhriti's wedding invitation in office..." He said making the elders shocked.

"You were in contact with them??" His father asked. He was shocked but their was a kind of relief over his face.

"Since when and why?? Didn't you care about our orders?? We clearly ordered that you will not into the contact with those two.. Then why??" His uncle asked clearly annoyed.

"We were not in contact with them since beginning. They both didn't even ready to give a simple glance.. Having contact is so far.." He said ignoring his uncle's words.

"Though I was in contact with Atharva to get to know that whether they both are fine.. Most of the time even he used to avoid my calls.." He continued.

"We went to meet them last year, the next day after Raksha Bandhan..." He started again but was cut by his uncle.

"What the hell?? You went to them ?? How dare you?? The way they both disrespected us was not enough.. That girl she put our reputation on stake.. Bloody attention seekers.. Have those girls done something for our family other than just being burden to our family.. " His uncle roared.

"Enough papa.." The twins yelled at the same time.

"We are not saying anything it doesn't mean that you will say something about our SISTERS.." The younger twin said.

"Sisters??" Their father laughed mockingly at them.

"You were telling them as burden right?? But due to those two only you are living in this house and not on the streets.." The elder twin said sternly.

The 3 elders looked at him in confusion where as his father looked sternly.

"And what do your "sisters" are related with the fact us living in this home." His father asked stressing on the word 'sisters'.

"I never wanted to reveal this soon but now I have to... Remember 2 years ago we were facing some problems in the business??" Rakshit asked his uncle sternly.

"That one deal which was worth some lakhs only??" His uncle replied.

"That was not worth few lakhs.. It was worth crores.. It was with our major distributors. We were not able to make payment to them since an year.. So they were hell adamant to cancel the deal which would have directly effected our other deals.. We would have been homeless..." The younger twin replied angrily.

"And that girl which is our whom you are naming 'useless' and 'burden' gave helped us to clear that payment... So all thanks to her.. We have a roof above us..." The elder twin said.

"Not only that.... She knew very well that you will not take her help so she gave us a property worth INR 6 crores and sent a note stating that their debt is over now..." Rakshit completed.

His uncle was stunned hearing him and the elder elders gave him an unbelievable look. The ladies had tears in their eyes and Rakshit's father looked weak and defeated.

"We went to met them as we were done regretting and now we wanted to make a move but lacked the guts to go there.. Our kids give us strength to go to their bua's home. All thanks to you they didn't even know that they had two wonderful aunts..." Rakshit said.

"All thanks to you four despite having sisters, we didn't had rakhi on our wrists for many years..
I lost my daughter, my angel and you were pretty normal to that news.
How can you be so heartless??... " The elder twin Shivam said.

"Sometimes I think it was good that she died at the time of birth only.. God knows what you all had done with her at our back as most of the time kids are with you only..." Shivam continued.

His voice turned heavy and he ran away to his room not able to handle his emotions. His wife who was already crying ran after him.

Everyone's heart clenched hearing his voice. He loved his daughter dearly and missed her. The elder ladies were sobbing mess now.

"You like it or not me, Rakshit bhaiya, Shivam and bhabhies along with kids are going to Dhriti dii's wedding.." Sachin said sternly and departed towards his room.

Rakshit gave elders a glance and then moved towards his room leaving the elders in their regret.

The ladies were sobbing. Even Rakshit's father had some tears but his uncle was looking blank without any expression. He didn't react anything but something changed that day.

Rakshit came to his room and went near the balcony. Soumya who was just beside him put her hand on his shoulder. He put his hand on her and caressed it. He gave her a sad smile.

"Will Dhriti forgive us this time...??" He asked looked at the front.

Soumya didn't say anything just put her head on his chest half- hugging him.

Rakshit put his arm around her and got lost in that day.

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(flashback to that time when Dhriti left her sister's home after seeing her brothers there) 

Dhriti ran outside taking her keys without telling anything to anyone.

"Dhritii..." Swati shouted but Dhriti didn't listen to her.

Swati was going after her but Atharva stopped her.

"Atharva.. We have to stop her.." She said.

"Calm down dear.. She will alright.. Let her be.." He said.

"Atharva... How can you say this?? We can't leave her alone." Swati replied shocked.

"Let her be Swati.. Give her some time. She needs some space.." Atharva calmed her down.

"Where has she gone??" Sachin asked.

"To her secret place.." Swati said.

"Is it okay to let her drive in this situation.. Atharva??" Swati asked.

"She will be fine.. I know her and trust her driving skills.. Also i had turned her phone's GPS on.. We can track her in case something happens.." Atharva said.

"She knows driving??" Rakshit asked.

"I taught her.." Atharva said proudly.

The brothers looked at him in a bit jealousy... He was doing the duty which they were supposed to do.. They saw Rakhi tied on Atharva's wrist and then looked at their empty wrists.

They had already lost much time and couldn't afford to do anymore.

Rakshit went near Swati and made her sit on safe. He himself sat at one side while Shivam sat at another side and Sachin sat on his knees in the front of her.

"I am really really sorry my dear sister... I am sorry i have been such a bad brother.. Knowing that all things which  were happening with you were completely wrong but still i didn't do anything..
Please forgive this idiot brother of your" Rakshit said joining his hands.

"We are sorry dii..  We are really sorry... We regret that we were silent when everything was happening in the front of us..." The twins said.

"Give us one chance please..." The younger twin said.

Tears rolled down Swati's eyes and she hugged Rakshit. The twins also joined their hug. Everyone had tears in their eyes.

"Rakhi??" Rakshit asked Swati and showed her rakhis he bought with himself.

Swati smiled and took rakhis from him. Atharva brought the kids from the room.

Swati tied rakhi to her brothers and fed them sweets. 

"Our kids don't have any sister... So??" Shivam asked showing two kids rakhi.

Swati smiled and made her daughter tie rakhi to the little kids.

"Will Dhriti dii forgive us??" Sachin asked.

"I don't know... She is not the same person anymore. Give her sometime... We will see what happens." She said with a sad smile.

(flashback end..)

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Back to Bangalore

The next day functions of Dhriti and Dhruv's wedding started. Today was their first ritual of the wedding which was Ganpati Poojan (worship of god Ganesha).

Pooja has been kept in Sharma's ancestral temple...

"Swati have you put the bags in the car where we have kept the gifts.." Atharva shouted.

"Yes.. I have.. Come on let's leave." Swati said adjusting her dupatta.

"Where is Dhriti??" He asked.

" She is in the car with Shavya and maa-papa..." She said.

"You are looking beautiful.." He kissed Swati's cheek and locked the door.

Swati blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear. 

"Is bhaiya-bhabhi and others coming to wedding??" Swati asked.

"Don't know... Will call him after we are done with pooja." Atharva said.

Dhriti's family drove towards the temple. Dhruv's brother was already there standing at the parking waiting for them.

He smiled at Dhriti's family and touched the elders feet. He hugged Atharva and greeted Swati.

"Oh ho.. Bhabhi ji aa gye aap.. My brother has been eagerly waiting for you since an hour.." He teased Dhriti making her go all red. 

Everyone laughed at her expressions. 

They reached upstairs where Dhruv and other members of his family stood. 

Dhruv saw Dhriti in her yellow ethnic dress with his mouth open in shock. She was looking surreal in her dress and her red lipstick didn't help him either.

He kept looking at her. 

Dhriti looked down feeling shy due to his constant gaze.

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(P.S.- Guys I will be addressing atharva's parents as Maa-papa ...

And will be addressing Dhruv's parents as Mom-Dad Okay??

 So don't get confuse..)

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Dhriti's POV

We reached upstairs and I saw Dhruv looking at our direction only.

He was looking dashing in his yellow kurta.

He was looking at me dreamily without even blinking his eyes. I felt extremely shy feeling his eyes on me and looked downwards to avoid his gaze. 

He came towards us and touched maa-papa's feet. His family also came towards us. I touched his mom-dad's feet. His bhabhi and sister took me into a hug. I smiled at his niece and nephew and kissed their cheek.

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"Beta.. Come. It's time for pooja." His mom said politely.

I nodded and went with her.

She made me sit beside him. He gave me his trademark smile and winked at me. I shrugged my head at him.

I covered my head with my dupatta and mom gave him a hanky to cover his head.

The priest started chanting the mantras. He asked us to offer coconut and fruits to Ganpati bappa's idol.

After sometime he asked us to close our eyes and pray to God for our happy and blissful marriage. 

I had closed my eyes but i felt someone poking me on my left knee... I opened my only one eye first and saw Dhruv looking at me with hopeful eyes. He grinned when i looked at me.

I raised my eyebrow to ask what he wanted.

"Come on.. Let's go.. " He mouthed.

"What?? Why?? Pooja is going on.." I replied and closed my eyes.
 

I felt someone poking me again. I slapped his hand away. 

"Beta... Agar rituals follow krne mein interest nhi tha to court marriage kra lete..(If you were not interested in following rituals then you should have gone for court marriage)..."  I heard someone's voice and saw that the priest was glaring at Dhruv.😒😝

I heard someone's giggle and saw that his siblings were trying hard to control their laugh.😂🙊

I stifled my laugh and looked at Dhruv. He was getting hard glares from his mom. He closed his eyes and joined his eyes like a sincere person. 🤐🙏

I closed my eyes again and prayed to God, "Thank you so much Ganpati bappa, for giving me an amazing partner and super amazing family... Give me your blessings that i can give my best to this relation and fit in my new family...🙏🙏"

I opened my eyes to look at Dhruv's face and I found him already looking at me. I smiled at him. He smiled at me and gave me a flying kiss. I smiled at his antics and joined my hands in front of the God's idol to thank him.

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After we were done with pooja, we served the food to the poor sitting near the temple. We went to the backyard of the temple where our families were sitting. 

I sat beside Swati dii. She smiled at me and took my hand in hers. 

"So in the afternoon we will leave together for the wedding destination. It will take approximately 2 hours to reach there. We have already checked with wedding planners.
They have taken care of everything and made the proper arrangement of the engagement which will be taking place today.." Dhruv's brother said and Atharva jiju nodded with him giving his assurance.

"We will leave now... will meet on the main near your society" Dhruv's brother continued and Atharva jiju muttered "Okay.."

"okayy.. so we should leave now.." Papa said and everyone started moving towards parking area.

I stood along with Swati dii. We were blocked by Dhruv who was looking at dii with pleading face.

"Dii please.. Give us a minute, please??" He asked.

Dii gave him a mischievous smile and moved away leaving me with him.

I looked at him in confusion. He scratched his head and dragged me towards a corner.

"Dhruv.. What are you doing?? Someone might come.." I said but he paid no heed to my words.

He encaged me near a wall and kissed my forehead.

"You are looking beautiful today.." He said looking in my eyes. 

I smiled at him.

"Just 3 days more... Ready to be Mrs. Dhriti??" He asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes focusing on "Mrs.".

"Yes.. soon to be Mr. Husband.." I said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Someone is getting bold day by day.." He smirked.

I hid my face in his chest shyingly making chuckle.

"And now shying away.." He  laughed.

"come on let's go..." I said.

We both departed towards their home with their respective families.

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I entered their apartment and started packing her bags. I suddenly realized now i will be going directly to his home after marriage and not coming here. The thought of living with a new family made me nervous. I know that Dhruv's family is sweetheart but still.

I was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't get to know when Swati entered and sat beside me.

"So already getting pre wedding jitters??" Swati dii asked. 

I didn't say anything just smiled.

"You know Dhriti when I got married and came at Saxena's mansion for the first after marriage, i was super nervous. I had lot of 'What if's'.... i wanted to cry but maa handled me. Papa , maa and Atharva made sure to make me comfortable in the home as i was earlier...
And i had seen love and warmth for you in Dhruv and his family's eyes also.. You will be fine.." She completed.

I hugged her and she hugged me back.🤗

"I will miss you soo much" Her eyes got watered.

"Dhriti... Have you packed ??  Come on it's time..." Atharva jiju said entering the room.

He saw both of us were emotional. He came and  sat on his knees in front of us.

"Dhriti... you are my sister and daughter of this house... We don't say this just as a formality. We really mean it... Married or Unmarried this home will always belong to you as much it belongs to me/ Swati or any other member... I will miss you..." He said and gave me a teary smile.

"Come on let's leave.. We are late." He took my bags and went outside. We followed him carrying the other stuff.

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We reached the point we had decided to meet in our cars. There were 4-5 cars in a queue waiting for us. Dhruv's brother was standing near one car. He saw our car and talked something with jiju.

Then we all departed for the resort we have booked for the wedding functions. I didn't see Dhruv anywhere. Maybe he is in another car.

I can't believe that we are already done with one ritual and i am getting married in 2 days. Today is my engagement. The thought itself sends a shiver to my spine. 

I am marrying the person whom I love but still there is a kind of fear, nervousness and anxiety in me. Maybe this is how every bride feels. 

We reached the resort and the view was refreshing with the tress around. I came out of car and stretched a little.

It was 5 pm already and the engagement is at 8. We rushed towards the rooms assigned to us. I looked for Dhruv but he was nowhere to be found.

IDIOT

Where is that stupid fellow??

I entered my room and took a shower to freshen up. When i came out of shower I looked at my phone. There was a message from Dhruv.

Dhruv❤ -  "Hey sweetheart... I know you would have been finding me but what to this idiot jerk of yours got stuck into really urgent work.. It was an emergency.. I just reached the resort. Sorry to keep you waiting.. See you soon. Love you 😘😘❤"

I smiled at his message. Just then Swati dii along with maa entered my room with a package in her hands. 

"Your dress is here... Also your beautician will be arriving here in few seconds. " She answered my unasked question.

I smiled at her and nodded.

"Don't worry beta.. We are with you. Stay calm Okay?? You will be fine." Maa said kissing my forehead and looked at me with loving eyes.

A knock came and the beautician entered along with 2 other girls.

"Dhriti, maa will be here with you.. I will be back soon. I have to check on Shavya too." Dii said and went outside.

The beautician opened the package. It had burgundy colored velvet saree in it.

"Mam this saree is really beautiful.." The beautician said looking at saree in awe.

I smiled at her. She gave me the blouse and underskirt and asked me to change in it. I came out wearing blouse and skirt and a robe over it. She started my make up. I asked her to keep it subtle and give a bold look to my eyes .

After half an hour she was done with my make up. I opened my eyes and i looked different. I looked beautiful. She had kept make up minimum as per my request and gave my eyes a smokey look. 

"Oh my child.. looking are looking stunning.." Maa said.

"Maa I m not even ready yet." I chuckled.

"It doesn't matter.. I know my daughter is going to look amazing." She said.

Swati dii entered the room. She was looking gorgeous in her semi ethnic dress. 

"Oh my my... You are looking gorgeous Dhriti.." She said.

I smiled at her and blinked my eyes in acknowledgement. 

"Maa... You also get changed.. I will be here with Dhriti." Swati dii said handing maa her saree.

Maa went to her room.

The another girl which came with hair dresser tied my hair in a bun and added roses to it.

I wore my heels and they helped me to tie the saree. I looked at myself and indeed i look good.

"Dhruv is going to have a tuff time today" Swati dii winked.

"Dii.." I said in shyness.🙈

The beauticians went back. Maa came to my room along with Papa, Atharva jiju and Shavya.

Maa was wearing a simple yet stunning saree. Atharva and Papa were dressed in tux. And my little princess was looking like a real princess in her fluffy frock. I  kissed her cheeks.

Maa put a kala teeka behind my ear. She went to dii and Shavya and did the same to them.

"Kisi ki nazar na lage meri bacchiyon ko (God protect my girls from all evil eyes)..." She said.

"Haa..haa saari nazar to aapku bachiyon ko hi lgti hai jaise.. Iss bacche  ka kya??...
(Yaa.. Like Every evil eyes fall on your girls only.. What about this kid??).... "
Atharva jiju huffed in annoyance.

We all chuckled at his antics. Maa slapped at the back of his head and put kala teeka behind his ear too.

Papa came and kissed my forehead. He opened a box and made me wear a bracelet. It was  looking expensive.

"Papa.. This??" I asked.

"Shh.. This is for my gorgeous daughter." He said.🤗

We clicked some family pics and maa-papa went to the garden area where function was organized. They took Shavya with them.

"I can't believe you are getting married this soon." Atharva jiju said.

"Come on Atharva... Today she is just getting engaged. Don't be emotional now. Our make up will get ruined." Swati dii said. Atharva jiju smiled. 

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He got a call from papa asking him to bring me to the garden area. I held dii and jiju's hand from either side and we went towards the garden.

The music got slowed down. I couldn't see Dhruv yet as we were still far. Papa came to us and asked dii-jiju to move ahead. 

I smiled at him and crossed my arm around papa's arm. He held my hand like i am his precious possession. 💖💖

We went towards the stage. Everyone clapped. It made me nervous to be the center of attraction but somehow i managed to smile. 

Dhruv was looking handsome in his blue tailored suit. He gave me a smile and stood up from sofa. He came near steps and forwarded his hand.

Papa gave my hand into his and said to him sternly "I am giving the responsibility of my daughter and my happiness to you. You better take care of her properly..."

Dhruv gulped and nodded his head in "Yes".

What is wrong between them?? Am i missing something? 🤔.

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Dhruv held my hand in his gentle grip and make me sit on the sofa. He took his seat beside me.

"You are looking simply beautiful... I can't believe this is happening in real.. " He looked at me dreamily. 😍😍

I smiled at him. A soft romantic track was playing in the background.

His bhabhi and Swati dii brought the rings. 💍💍

"Ladies first.." He gestured me to take the ring first.

I took the ring from Swati dii and looked at him. 

This is it Dhriti.. You can do it.

Dhruv looked at me. Sensing my emotions he put his hand on my free hand which was on my lap and pressed it slightly giving me assurance.

This was it what I needed. I knew this relation can never be wrong.

I sighed and pushed the ring on his ring finger. 

Everyone hooted and cheered for us.

It was Dhruv's turn. He took the ring from his bhabhi. I was a platinum band with a small diamond studded on it.

He was going to push the ring in my finger when his brother said,
"Come on Dhruv.. This is not the way to make your lady wear a ring."

Dhruv looked at his brother confused.

"Come on Dhruv.. On your knees.." He shouted. Others hooted cheering him up.

"On your knees... on your knees..." Everyone was hooting.

"Fine.. fine" Dhruv said and bend down on his knee.

"Dhriti since I have already made you wear ring on your left hand, I will make you wear this ring on your right one...  This is my promise ring.
This is my promise that i will be with you, love you , care for you, respect you and stand by you for my whole life... I had already said everything that day.. Today I just want to say you..

 Marry me, Juliet

You'll never have to be alone

I love you and that's all I really know

I talked to your dad, go pick out a pink dress

It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes".... " He said as well as sang.

The time he started singing those lyrics the DJ played the same track.

His words bought tears in my eyes . I nodded and he pushed the ring on my other's hand ring finger.

(P.S.- It's a part of a song called 'Love Story' sung by Taylor Swift.. I hope you had heard it before.
Actually there was 'white dress' in lyrics in place of 'pink dress' but since our Dhriti is gonna wear pastel pink dress as Anushka did, I had written 'pink dress' here.😉😁 )

Everyone clapped and hooted. He sat on the seat beside me and took my hand in his caressing them like he is living a dream which he doesn't want to end. He held my face and kissed my cheeks making me blush and the crowd go 'awe'. 😘😘❤😍

(P.S.- While writing this para literally Virushka's engagement video was moving in front of my eyes 😍❤ I hope i could do justice to that video)

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Uff I think this is the longest chapter i had ever written 4500+ words that too in a single day.. Woahh... 😪😪

As much i enjoyed writing this, It has been hell of a tiring day..  😴😴

Hello lovelies 🤗

I hope you all are doing well... 

So the wedding rituals of Dhriti and Dhruv had already started. I hope i could do justice to the chapter and rituals. I am sorry if i wrote something wrong.

Tell me your views about this chapter.

The response on last chapter was pretty good. Thank your for showering you love on last chapter. 🙏🙏

Some new persons also voted and commented. And after this super long chapter i am expecting a bit on this chapter too. Sorry for being selfish though.🙈

Please give me surprise by lots of lovely comments and votes. 🙏🙏🙃

Sorry i didn't reply to any comment on last chapter... I will reply on each and every comment tomorrow...😴😴

Till then, okay byee

Stay Happy, Stay Safe.

-Pratima :)